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RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Commissioned and Grant Funding Provided By: Prepared Under Contract To: Prepared by: In Collaboration With: Mary S. Allen RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Introductions • Christina Seibert, Shaw Environmental, Inc. – Project Manager and Solid Waste Planner – Nearly 10 years of solid waste and recycling planning experience throughout Illinois and the U.S. • Mary S. Allen, Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) – Recycling and Education Director for SWANCC – Since 1995, she has developed and implemented SWANCC’s school and community programs and resource materials that focus on reducing waste and toxicity – Teaching degree from Florida State University. RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Purpose • Focus on businesses, schools, universities and other institutions • Provide up-to-date information to evaluate and establish waste reduction programs that are: – Compatible with operations – Cost-effective – Sustainable RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Tool Kit Organization • Designed to operate as a manual for developing and implementing a waste reduction program – Background information - importance of waste reduction in the workplace, common workplace characteristics – Steps to success – how to develop and implement your waste reduction plan – Related sustainable practices RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Information Sources • Previous IRA Recycling Works Toolkit, completed in 2004 • Guidance documents prepared by other agencies or units of government • Professional experience RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Why Reduce Waste? Environmental Reasons: • Preserve landfill capacity • Conserve natural resources • Conserve energy and reduce emissions Business Reasons: • Reduce costs • Streamline business operations and increase operating efficiencies • Demonstrate environmental stewardship • Reduce liabilities RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Illinois Waste Stream Characteristics • Business-sector waste = 54% (10 million tons) of waste generated in state • Business-sector waste = 46% (7 million tons) of waste disposed in state • Current diversion = 30% Business-Sector Disposed Waste Composition RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Waste Management Hierarchy Source Reduction Reuse Recycle/Compost Disposal RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Key Contacts • • • • Local service offerings and limitations Regional and national best practices Research and evaluation assistance Implementation guidance RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Key Contacts • Local – City and county waste and recycling coordinators – Waste and recycling haulers – Other businesses • State – State agencies – DCEO, IEPA – Professional organizations – IRA, ILCSWMA, SWANA • Federal – Federal agencies – US EPA – Professional organizations – NRC, KAB, RONA, SWANA RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Steps to Success Step 1. Form a Green Team Step 3. Evaluate Options Step 4. Develop a Plan Step 5. Launch the Program Step 6. Monitor and Measure Success RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Provide Feedback – Management provides leadership support and feedback is sought and shared Step 2. Do Your Research Step 1. Form a Green Team • Leader for waste reduction planning and implementation • Share responsibilities and make decisions about waste reduction options • Achieve management buy-in and support • Resource for other employees / departments post-implementation RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace T-Shirts for Green Team RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Step 2. Do Your Research • Know your waste stream • Know the services and markets available • Consider costs and savings • Reach out to key contacts RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Waste Assessment / Audit • Informs decisions on what materials to target and how much diversion potential exists • Quantify how much and what types of waste your business generates • Identify current waste management and recycling practices • Identify processes that generate waste RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Waste Assessment Options • Visual observation quickly identifies: – Relative quantities of waste, by type – Large material streams that may be diverted – Overall waste generation and management practices • Physical sort provides detailed information: – Quantities and composition of waste stream, by material type and source – Smaller material streams that may be diverted – Fine-tune projections of waste reduction quantities RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Hauler Services • • • • • • Collection containers Materials for collection Quantity and quality requirements Collection process Costs Regional differences – hauler services tied to business size and market availability RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Market Availability • Separating materials for recycling only makes sense if there is a market for the material • Location and material quality determine cost/revenue • Generally, markets are more readily available in urban areas or near major transportation routes than in rural areas RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Economic Analysis • Recycling is a service – it carries a cost • Source reduction may result in avoided purchasing costs • Waste reduction results in avoided disposal costs • Waste reduction may also result in revenues from sale of recyclables • New costs incurred include: – Capital costs for containers, equipment (e.g., balers) – Operating costs for labor, collection, container maintenance, education/promotion RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Economic Analysis $ Annual savings and revenues - $ Annual operating costs - $ Annualized capital costs $ Net savings (cost) of waste reduction program RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Step 3. Evaluate Options • Options considered based on findings from research – Source reduction and reuse – Recycling – Composting – Special and hazardous wastes – Green procurement – Green meetings RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Source Reduction and Reuse • Source reduction – preventing waste from being generated in the first place, or reducing toxicity of waste • Reuse – using materials again for the same or another purpose • Save money by not creating waste (or recyclables) in the first place – Consider strategies to reduce consumption of materials – Donate or repurpose working equipment / materials – Post materials on material exchanges RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Recycling • Recycling – separating, collecting, processing, marketing and remanufacturing a material that would have been discarded as waste • Requires separation from the waste stream • Common recyclable materials: – Glass – Metal – Plastics – Paper RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Assorted Recycling Receptacles RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Composting • Composting – converts organic materials (food scrap, yard trimmings, paper) into a dark, earthy-smelling soil conditioner • Landscape waste banned from Illinois landfills since 1990 – significant commercial composting infrastructure has developed since • Effective January 1, 2010, food scrap can also be composted in permitted facilities RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Onsite Outdoor Composting • Important to check local ordinances and permit requirements to determine if onsite composting is allowed • Outdoor composting bins can be created easily from scrap materials or basic building materials • Proper mixture of brown (wood, dried leaves) and green (yard waste, food scrap) materials is necessary to achieve quality compost and minimize odors and pests RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Outdoor Composting Bins RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Vermi-Composting • Composting with special earthworms • Worms process food scrap and worm castings contribute to finished compost • Retail bins are able to handle relatively small quantities of food scrap • Large-scale vermi-digesters are able to handle much larger quantities of food scrap and organic wastes RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Worm Composting Bins RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Special and Hazardous Wastes • US EPA universal waste regulations govern management of: – Dry-cell and wet-cell batteries – Pesticides – Mercury-containing equipment and bulbs • Electronics increasingly taken back by manufacturers or processing facilities – Computers, monitors, printers and televisions banned from Illinois landfills beginning January 1, 2012 RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Green Procurement • Green procurement or Environmentally Preferable Purchasing ensures purchase of: – Materials with recycled content – Recyclable or renewable materials – Less toxic materials • Suppliers can assist in identifying options and provide other waste reduction assistance: – Reduced and/or reusable packaging – Bulk purchasing RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Green Meetings • Incorporates environmental considerations to reduce waste generation and impact • Green Meeting Industry Council and BlueGreen Meetings provide many resources • Reinforces business goals and priorities while potentially reducing costs • Reduces environmental footprint RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace 10 Easy Tips (by BlueGreen Meetings) 1. Put it in writing 2. Use paperless technology 3. Meet close 4. Practice the 3 Rs 5. Bulk up 6. Lighten your stay 7. Eat green 8. Close the Loop 9. Save energy 10.Spread the word! RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Convention Industry Council • Collected Name Badges – 1,300 attendees, savings of $975 • Used washable cups, plates, tableware diverted approximately 1,800 lbs. of plastic from landfill, 5-day event • Conserved water – no prefill, 2,220 attendees, 3-day event – lunch, saved 520 gallons of water RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Step 4. Develop a Plan • Identify activities (source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting) to reduce wastes • Seek bids/proposals from service providers • Identify responsibilities of staff and contractors • Develop green purchasing and sustainable practices guidelines to support waste reduction plan RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Step 4. Develop a Plan • Identify program costs and implementation schedule • Purchase and place necessary equipment – Collection containers – Processing equipment (e.g., baler) RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Controlling Program Costs • Jointly procure collection services • Self-haul recyclables to drop-off facilities • Start with large, easily recycled components of the waste stream • Use simple items such as copy paper boxes or storage tubs for recycling containers and label with simple signage RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Step 5. Launch the Program • Educational materials and tools – Staff memos – Pamphlets and posters – Workshops – Display cases • Promote program outside the business – Press releases – Encourage participation by customers, clients, patients, visitors, etc. RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace South Carolina DHEC Posters RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Give-A-Ways MAGNET SANDWICH CONTAINER RECYCLED CURRENCY PENCIL REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Reusable Bag Messages RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Step 6. Monitor and Measure Success • Evaluate performance in first month to identify challenges, problems • Routinely track diversion quantities and waste quantities to measure and report performance • Identify opportunities for program modification, enhancement and expansion • Report successes to employees to encourage continued participation • Programs can take 6 months to 1 year to become established and show measurable impacts – be patient and persistent RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Related Sustainable Practices • Waste reduction can be part of a larger, comprehensive sustainability program that may also address: – Energy and water conservation • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Reduce water consumption and loss – Transportation and travel • Reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace What Are YOU Willing To Do To Make A Difference? “Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the implications of small changes. Simple doesn’t mean unimportant. Even the simplest actions can make a difference when multiplied by many.” Crissy Trask, It’s Easy Being Green RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace Thank You! Christina Seibert Shaw Environmental, Inc. (630) 762-1400 [email protected] Mary S. Allen SWANCC (847) 724-9205 x 204 [email protected] RECYCLING WORKS: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace